The World's Biggest Wave
On 15 September 2004 the eye of a giant storm passed over a set of scientific gauges on the seabed of the Gulf of Mexico. The instruments measured the size of the waves created by Hurricane Ivan as it headed towards the American coast.
A study published today in the journal Science reveals that the hurricane created waves measuring at least 90 feet (30m) from crest to trough - the tallest and most extreme open-ocean waves ever recorded by modern instruments.
By monitoring differences in water pressure on the seabed, the scientists were able to estimate the size of the column of water overhead.
The findings demonstrate that scientists have in the past underestimated the size of the waves that can be generated by hurricanes, said William Teague from the Naval Research Laboratory in Stennis Space Centre, Mississippi.
The waves recorded were the size of a 10-storey building but were probably not the largest that the hurricane had generated, Dr Teague said.
He estimated that even bigger waves up to 132 feet tall were being created in other parts of the huge tropical cyclone.
Hurricane Ivan had already ripped through the island of Grenada when the seabed readings were taken, and went on to cause death and destruction on Jamaica, the Cayman island and finally the United States where it petered out.
The wave-measuring instruments on the seabed are shaped liked barnacles and are designed to help engineers build structures such as oil platforms that have to withstand extreme conditions.
The worst hurricane
Hurricane Mitch, which killed about 11,000 people in 1998, is considered to be the most destructive hurricane of modern times. Mitch struck Central America in October and November, destroying about 100,000 homes and leaving about 2.5 million people dependent on relief aid. Wind speeds reached 180mph for a 24-hour period, making it the strongest hurricane in the Caribbean in more than a decade.
Hurricanes normally last for between nine and 10 days and move westwards at a speed of about 12mph, gradually curving away from the equator as they move.
They are one of the most dramatic and destructive forces in nature. According to Bill McGuire, author of Surviving Armageddon and a natural hazards expert at University College London, the past 12 months have been the worst on record for hurricanes.
Five have struck Florida alone and the forecast for this year is that there will be about four times as many hurricanes as the annual average.
Heaviest rainfall
About 1.8 inches (4.6cm) of rain fell in a minute at Basse Terre in Guadeloupe on 26 November 1970 and 53 inches fell over a 12-hour period at Belouve on La Reunion island in the Indian Ocean.
The highest average annual rainfall - some 450 inches - is at Mt Waialeale in Hawaii. The highest recorded annual rainfall was 1,042 inches (nearly 87 feet) at Cherrapunji, India. It also recorded the highest rainfall in a calender month - 366 inches, or 30ft 6in.
Bombay last month recorded the highest rainfall in a single day in India - 37.1 inches.
Coldest place on Earth
The lowest recorded temperature outside a science laboratory was at the Russian research station at Vostok in Antarctica on 21 July 1983. It was minus 89.2C (minus 128.6F), cold enough to freeze your breath.
The temperature there is regularly between minus 30C and minus 60C, a result of the exceptionally high speed of the winds at this part of the frozen continent and the lack of solar radiation during the winter, when the days pass in complete darkness.
And while minus 89.2C is the official record, Vostok station reported, unofficially, that Vostok reached the temperature of minus 91C during the winter of 1997.
Hottest place on Earth
There are many contenders for this record. A weather station in El Azizia in Libya recorded 57.8C (136F) - hot enough to fry an egg - in 1922.
This record meets technical requirement in being made using a thermometer 5 feet above the ground in an enclosed, shaded area.
Other locations have, however, almost certainly been hotter, but no formal record is available.
The Dallol Depression in Ethiopia, which is more than 100 meters below sea level, features yellow sulphur fields among the white salt beds. Temperatures can reach as high as 63C.
Another contender is Death Valley in California, which is also below sea level, where temperatures have been recorded as reaching 49C.
Wave of tornados
In April 1974, southern and mid-western US suffered its worst tornado episode. Over a 24-hour period, 148 swept through the region. Thirteen states from Alabama to Virginia were affected. After 16 hours, 330 people were dead and 5,484 were injured in a damage path covering more than 2,500 miles. Tornadoes form during thunder storms when warm, humid air collides with colder air to form a swirling vortex.
Driest place on Earth
The Atacama desert in northern Chile is the most arid tract of land known. On average the buff-coloured sands of this region receive less than 0.004in of rain a year. Some parts of the desert have not seen rainfall in 400 years; scientists see it as a good training ground for testing instruments to search for the presence of water on other planets.
The Atacama desert owes its conditions to the fact that it is sandwiched between the high mountains of the Andes on the east and the exceptionally cold currents of the Pacific Ocean in the west. Bodies buried there by prehistoric people are almost perfectly preserved as natural mummies.
The world's worst modern meteor strike
Early in the morning of 30 June 1908 a large and mysterious explosion occurred in the sky over eastern Siberia. Visitors to the site of the explosion at Tunguska in northern Russia saw catastrophic damage, with thousands of acres of forest felled.
Local reindeer herdsmen said they were blown off their feet during the impact. The fireball lit up the night sky for hundreds of miles around - some say that it could even be seen from London.
Scientists now believe the event was caused by a large meteorite breaking up as it entered the Earth's atmosphere. The lump of space rock exploded at an altitude of about 4 miles (6.4km), sending a huge pulse of explosive energy to the ground that flattened everything in its path.
T
he most destructive earthquakes
On 22 May 1960 an earthquake with a magnitude of 9.5 on the Richter scale struck off the coast of Chile. It is estimated to have accounted for about a quarter of the seismic energy released by all earthquakes in the past century. The US Geological Survey said that the earthquake killed 2,000 people, injured 3,000 and made another 2 million homeless. Tsunamis travelled across the Pacific, causing millions of pounds worth of damage in Hawaii, Japan, the west coast of the US and the Philippines.
However, the most destructive earthquake in modern times was in Tangshan, north-east of the Chinese capital of Beijing, in 1976. Officially the death toll was 242,419; unofficial estimates said 750,000.
The world's biggest volcanos
The most destructive volcanic eruption in modern times was that of Tambora on the Sumbawa island of Indonesia. It began on 5 April 1815 with a moderate explosion. Five days later "three columns of fire" rose into the sky and an estimated 50 cubic kilometres of molten magma were expelled. An estimated 92,000 died from the explosion or resulting starvation.
The debris thrown into the atmosphere caused global climate change. Crops failed as far away as America and many tens of thousands of people died from famine in the immediate vicinity of the eruption.
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Take care of your parents
A simple man tells how his booking an air ticket for his father, his first flight, brought emotions and made him realize that how much we all take for granted when it comes to our parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same.
In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Flight.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air.
The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.
But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes?
Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments.
Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children,the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.
Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of ur parents.
My parents left for our native place on Thursday and we went to the airport to see them off. In fact, my father had never traveled by air before, so I just took this opportunity to make him experience the same.
In spite of being asked to book tickets by train, I got them tickets on Flight.
The moment I handed over the tickets to him, he was surprised to see that I had booked them by air.
The excitement was very apparent on his face, waiting for the time of travel. Just like a school boy, he was preparing himself on that day and we all went to the airport, right from using the trolley for his luggage, the baggage check-in and asking for window seat and waiting restlessly for the security check-in to happen.
He was thoroughly enjoying himself and I, too, was overcome with joy watching him experience all these things.
As they were about to go in for the security check-in, he walked up to me with tears in his eyes and thanked me. He became very emotional and it was not as if I had done something great but the fact that this meant a great deal to him.
When he said thanks, I told him there was no need to thank me.
But later, thinking about the entire incident, I looked back at my life.
As a child how many dreams our parents have made come true. Without understanding the financial situation, we ask for football, dresses, toys, outings, etc. Irrespective of their affordability, they have satisfied to all our needs. Did we ever think about the sacrifices they had to make to accommodate many of our wishes?
Did we ever say thanks for all that they have done for us?
Same way, today when it comes to our children, we always think that we should put them in a good school. Regardless of the amount of donation, we will ensure that we will have to give the child the best, theme parks, toys, etc. But we tend to forget that our parents have sacrificed a lot for our sake to see us happy, so it is our responsibility to ensure that their dreams are realized and what they failed to see when they were young, it is our responsibility to ensure that they experience all those and their life is complete.
Many times, when my parents had asked me some questions, I have actually answered back without patience. When my daughter asks me something, I have been very polite in answering. Now I realize how they would have felt at those moments.
Let us realize that old age is a second childhood and just as we take care of our children,the same attention and same care need to be given to our parents and elders.
Rather than my dad saying thank you to me, I would want to say sorry for making him wait so long for this small dream. I do realize how much he has sacrificed for my sake and I will do my best to give the best possible attention to all their wishes.
Just because they are old does not mean that they will have to give up everything and keep sacrificing for their grandchildren also. They have wishes, too.
Take care of ur parents.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
About 1500 stars are visible at night with the naked eye in a clear, dark sky. There are 88 canstellations altogether; the smallest star measuring about 1700km across, it is a white dwarf called LP 327-16!
In ancient Rome only important people wore purple clothes; this is because the purple dye came from a particular kind of shellfish and was very expensive!
Lava from an erupting volcano may be as hot as 1200 degrees celsius!
Some of the oldest mountains in the world are located in Scotland; they are estimated to be about 400 million years old!
Blue whales weigh up to 7 tonnes at birth!
The longest jail sentence till date was passed in the United States; 10,000 years for a triple murder charge!
Astronauts become a little taller in space; there's less gravity, so their bones are less bonded together!
About 20% of all volcanoes are underwater!
The Amazon 'Jesus Christ Lizard' can run across water!
The industrial complex of Cubatao in Brazil is known as the valley of death; because of its pollution, which has destroyed the trees and rivers nearby!
The loudest noise ever known till date was produced by a volcanic eruption at krakatoa, near Japan in 1883; the sound was heard in Australia, 5000km away!
The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova, from the USSR; in june 1963!
Some animals can grow new parts of their body if damaged; starfish can grow new arms, lizards can grow broken-off tails!
The fastest growing tree is the eucalyptus; it can grow up to 10 meters in a year!
Over 4 million cars in Brazil are now running on gasohol instead of gasoline/petrol. Gasohol is a fuel made from sugarcane!
The world's largest recorded gathering of people till date was at a Hindu religious festival in India in 1989; it was attended by about 15 million people!
Sharks, in their 400 million years on earth have shown an extraordinary ability to resist cancer and other diseases. This has raised hopes among medical researchers that the ocean's most feared predator might turn out to be the cancer patient's best friend; investigators continue to study the immune system of sharks to see if it can provide the answer to stop the spread of cancer in humans!
Yuri Gagarin survived the first manned space flight but was killed in a plane crash seven years later!
The first animal in space was the soviet dog, Laika, in November, 1957; it died on the flight!
The largest tree in the world is a giant sequoia growing in california; it is 84 meters tall and measures 29 meters round the trunk!
Abraham Lincoln went to school for less than a year; he taught himself how to read and write!
The world's largest palace till date has 1788 rooms; it was built for the Sultan of Brunei!
There is no land at all at the North pole; only large mass of water with ice covering it!
A mayfly only lives for a day; but a tortoise can live up to 100 years!
Levi Strauss (Levi's) made the first pair of jeans in 1850; they were intended as work trousers for American miners looking for gold!
With over 50 foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn't likely to carve out a big slice of the U.S market. --Business week, 1958--!
The oldest living tree is a California bristle cone pine named 'Methuselah'; it is about 4600 yrs old!
Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana was formed in a hollow made by a meteorite!
The Antartic notothenia fish has a protein in its blood that acts like antifreeze and stops the fish from freezing in icy sea!
The cries of South American howler monkeys can be heard 16km away!
In ancient Rome only important people wore purple clothes; this is because the purple dye came from a particular kind of shellfish and was very expensive!
Lava from an erupting volcano may be as hot as 1200 degrees celsius!
Some of the oldest mountains in the world are located in Scotland; they are estimated to be about 400 million years old!
Blue whales weigh up to 7 tonnes at birth!
The longest jail sentence till date was passed in the United States; 10,000 years for a triple murder charge!
Astronauts become a little taller in space; there's less gravity, so their bones are less bonded together!
About 20% of all volcanoes are underwater!
The Amazon 'Jesus Christ Lizard' can run across water!
The industrial complex of Cubatao in Brazil is known as the valley of death; because of its pollution, which has destroyed the trees and rivers nearby!
The loudest noise ever known till date was produced by a volcanic eruption at krakatoa, near Japan in 1883; the sound was heard in Australia, 5000km away!
The first woman in space was Valentina Tereshkova, from the USSR; in june 1963!
Some animals can grow new parts of their body if damaged; starfish can grow new arms, lizards can grow broken-off tails!
The fastest growing tree is the eucalyptus; it can grow up to 10 meters in a year!
Over 4 million cars in Brazil are now running on gasohol instead of gasoline/petrol. Gasohol is a fuel made from sugarcane!
The world's largest recorded gathering of people till date was at a Hindu religious festival in India in 1989; it was attended by about 15 million people!
Sharks, in their 400 million years on earth have shown an extraordinary ability to resist cancer and other diseases. This has raised hopes among medical researchers that the ocean's most feared predator might turn out to be the cancer patient's best friend; investigators continue to study the immune system of sharks to see if it can provide the answer to stop the spread of cancer in humans!
Yuri Gagarin survived the first manned space flight but was killed in a plane crash seven years later!
The first animal in space was the soviet dog, Laika, in November, 1957; it died on the flight!
The largest tree in the world is a giant sequoia growing in california; it is 84 meters tall and measures 29 meters round the trunk!
Abraham Lincoln went to school for less than a year; he taught himself how to read and write!
The world's largest palace till date has 1788 rooms; it was built for the Sultan of Brunei!
There is no land at all at the North pole; only large mass of water with ice covering it!
A mayfly only lives for a day; but a tortoise can live up to 100 years!
Levi Strauss (Levi's) made the first pair of jeans in 1850; they were intended as work trousers for American miners looking for gold!
With over 50 foreign cars already on sale here, the Japanese auto industry isn't likely to carve out a big slice of the U.S market. --Business week, 1958--!
The oldest living tree is a California bristle cone pine named 'Methuselah'; it is about 4600 yrs old!
Lake Bosumtwi in Ghana was formed in a hollow made by a meteorite!
The Antartic notothenia fish has a protein in its blood that acts like antifreeze and stops the fish from freezing in icy sea!
The cries of South American howler monkeys can be heard 16km away!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Winners say, If it is to be, it is up to me.
Losers say, I can't help it.
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Winners translate dreams into reality.
Losers translate reality into dreams.
.
Winners empower.
Losers control.
.
Winners say, Let's find out.
Losers say, Nobody knows.
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Winners are part of the solution.
Losers are part of the problem.
.
Winners are not afraid of losing.
Losers are afraid of winning.
.
Winners work harder than losers.
Losers are always too busy.
.
Winners say, I was wrong.
Losers say, It was not my fault.
.
Winners want to.
Losers have to..
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Winners always make time.
Losers often waste time.
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Winners say, I'll plan to do that.
Losers say, I'll try to do that.
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Winners say, I'm good but not as good as I can be.
Losers say, I'm not as bad as a lot of other people.
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Winners listen to what others say.
Losers wait until it's their turn to talk.
.
Winners catch others doing things right.
Losers catch others doing things wrong.
.
Winners learn from others.
Losers resent their colleagues.
.
Winners see opportunities.
Losers see only the problems.
.
Winners do it.
Losers talk about it.
.
Winners feel responsible for more than their jobs.
Losers frequently state, I only work here.
.
Winners say, There ought to be a better way.
Losers say, That's the way it's always been done.
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Winners celebrate others.
Losers complain about others.
.
Winners are willing to pay the price.
Losers expect it on a silver platter.
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Winners always expect success.
Losers always expect failure.
Winners make thing happen Losers wait for thing to happen
Winners are self-disciplined
Losers are self-indulgent
Winners are achievers
Losers are sustainer's
Winners transcend environment
Losers controlled by environment
Winners: "What can I do for them?"
Losers: "What can they do for me?"
Winners think and act
Losers act and think
Winners are self-confident and never jealous of others
Losers have inferiority complex and are always jealous or others
Winners are never embarrassed to seek other’s help
Losers have second thought seeking help
Winners: "I can"
Losers:"I can't"
Winners consider problems as a stepping stone
Losers consider problems as a stumbling block
Winners persevere despite defeat
Losers entertain defeat
Winners are far-sighted
Losers are short-sighted
Winners are self-acceptant and never make any comparison with others
Losers always compare themselves with others
Winners see problems as a challenge
Losers see problems as a burden
Winners have high regard for themselves
Losers look down upon themselves
Winners are positive
Losers are negative
Winners are creative
Losers non-creative
Winners continue working while others have stopped
Losers stop working before others
Winners have time to think
Losers are lazy to think
Winners anticipate the unexpected
Losers can never tolerate the unexpected
Winners work smartly hard
Losers work blindly hard
Winners believe in themselves
Losers believe in fate
Winners regard 'man' as the highest and greatest value
Losers regard 'man' as tools to realize their goals
Winners hardly complain
Losers always complain
Winners think 'green'
Losers think 'red'
Winners live their own life
Losers live other's life
Winners see light in darkness
Losers see only darkness
Winners never quit
Losers readily to quit
Winners are non-conformists
Losers are conformists
Winners solve problems
Losers are dissolved by problems
Winners believe they can change, progress and improve
Losers believe they can't change, progress and improve
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